Missouri Business Resource Library:
Start-up

Business plans and planning

Courses for Start-up Businesses

• Developing a Business Plan
• Determining Your Business Legal Structure
  

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• Starting a Small Business: The First Steps (visit calendar)
• Starting and Managing a Small Business in Missouri (visit calendar)
• The Basics of Writing a Business Plan (visit calendar)

Ask a Specialist:

• What are the basic steps to follow to open a Missouri business?

Jump Start Online Business Learning

• Business Name/ Fictitious Name
• Setting up an LLC
• Is Your Business Idea Right for You?

Starting a business in Missouri: Top resources

• Automated Business Plan Template - SBA's tool designed to help you build a business plan. At the end of the program you will be able to generate and save a formatted business plan which can later be further modified or presented as a final product.
• BizPlanIt's Virtual Business Plan - Step-by-step walkthrough of business plan sections including basics and mistakes to avoid.
• Business Owner's Toolkit - Downloadable business plan for manufacturer, service and retailer businesses.
• Business Plan - Overview and suggested outline of the material that should be included in your business plan
• The Business Plan - Second section of "Doing Business in Missouri." Provides information on how to put together the written expression of your business idea and market projections, the business plan.
• Business Plan Archive - A collection of (primarily dot com) business plans archived by the University of Maryland.
• Bplans.com - Find, view, download and edit sample business plans.
• Business Planning Software - Includes a collection of resources for planning your business, documenting your plan and evaluating your strategy.
• Guide to Writing a Business Plan - Helps new or existing business owners take an objective look at their business, identify areas of strength and weakness, pinpoint needs that otherwise might be overlooked, spot opportunities early, and begin planning how best to achieve their goals.
• INVenture Business Planner - Free, online business planning tool with a self-assessment that asks key questions and produces a downloadable, personalized business plan. A tutorial provides a helpful walkthrough.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Lands - Government of British Columbia site offering nine commodity-specific business plans providing business organization, financial, production, marketing and human resource information for planning within the context of the agricultural business.
• The Plan - A Step-By-Step Business Plan Workbook - MasterCard's Working for Small Business user-friendly workbook.
• vFinance - Offers business plan services and sample business plan templates.
• Virtual Restaurant - Provides a business plan outline and a sample business plan for a family restaurant. A set of 22 linked Excel spreadsheets that do financial modeling for restaurant venture business plans are viewable and available for purchase.
• Write a Business Plan that Works - Step by step guide on how to write a valuable business plan that can actually guide your business success.
• A Written Business Plan Keys Entrepreneurial Success - A good business plan is a living document that is updated regularly and measures performance relative to specific goals. This article describes the categories of the business plan.
• see Developing a Business Plan section (pg 5) of "Starting a New Business in Missouri"

Buying and selling a business or franchise

• BizBen.com: California small business opportunities - Businesses and franchisess for sale, resources to sell and buy, businesses wanted to buy and links to "Top 100 Businesses For Sale" web sites.
• Buy, build or franchise - Choosing the right way to go into business.
• Buying existing business may bring profit, or loss - Tips for purchasing an existing business.
• Business Book Press - Resource center for buying, selling or valuing a business; includes many relevant guides and articles.
• Consider due-diligence factors when buying, selling, merging businesses
• Pricing a business for sale - The process of selling a business is usually very involved.
• USA Today's Franchise Directory - Businesses and franchises to buy
• Valuing a small business for sale - Detailed information on pricing a business to sell from SCORE
• What is my business worth? - How to determine a selling price for your business and tips for selling it

Computers in business and computer-related businesses

• See section under "technology" in "industry focus" section

Evaluating a business idea

• Evaluating Your Business Idea - Examine your business idea and determine your potential for success before you spend time and money developing a business plan. Honest answers to this feasibility study will identify areas of strength and concern and provide insight into your market, competitors, start-up costs, sales and financing to help you make an educated decision about moving forward.
• How to Research a Business Opportunity - Protect yourself by learning what a business opportunity really is, how the government regulates them and the steps you should take to ensure you've found the best opportunity available (from Entrepreneur).
• Selecting a Business That Fits - SBA podcast. Starting a business must be pursued for the right reasons or it is destined to fail. Explores importance of selecting a business that blends with your interests and skills. or (transcript)
  
• A Walk Through the Commercialization Process - A review of the product development process, including creation, testing, production, licensing, launch, marketing and sales.

Legal structures

• see Legal structures in Regulations and taxes

Licenses and registration

• see Licenses and permits in Regulations and taxes

Site location

• Choosing a Business Location - In addition to location, several other considerations are important when choosing a retail site
• How to Find the Best Location - A guide to scouting out a location for your food or retail business, sizing up demographics and getting the help you need (from Entrepreneur).

Start-up guides and assistance

• The Basics - First section of "Doing Business in Missouri." Provides information to new or existing business owners on the skills needed to operate a small business and some common reasons small businesses fail.
• ChooseWhat - Reviews the latest business tools to help you get your business off the ground without breaking the bank or wasting time. Helps small business owners and entrepreneurs make informed decisions on the right tools and products for their business.
• Doing Business in Missouri - Designed to provide information to new or existing business owners; includes sections covering basics, business plan, legal info, taxes and hiring employees.
• Feasibility Checklist - Checklist for the owner-manager of a small business enterprise or for one contemplating going into business for the first time. From the State of Illinois business portal.
• How to Start and Manage a Home-based Business - Discussion of the marketing and management skills necessary to succeed in operating a home-based business, plus information on licenses, regulations, legal structure, taxes, insurance, recordkeeping and business plans.
• Is There A Would-Be Business Owner In There? - Do a little self-study if you want to start a business but are unsure of the course to take.
• Missouri Business Portal - Single point of entry for business registration, filings, licenses, and permits for doing business in the State of Missouri.
• Missouri innovation centers, incubators and research parks (link to section in Industry)
• Opening a business in Missouri - A MO SBTDC counselor explains the six basic steps to follow to open a Missouri business.
• Small Business How-to Guide - The Wall Street Journal's tips for starting a business including funding, technology, franchising and running a business.
• Starting a Business in Missouri (en Espanol) - Start-up guide in Spanish.
• Starting a green business - Guidelines and opportunities for environmentally minded entrepreneurs (from SBA).
• Starting a New Business in Missouri - A quick reference guide on the basic requirements to start and operate a business in Missouri.
• Start-up and annual expense worksheets - Worksheets for estimating start-up costs and annual sales and earnings.
• What makes an entrepreneur? - A fresh look at what it takes to be an entrepreneur.